What I grew up learning to be healthy as a child, I now know not to be. In elementary school, we studied the food pyramid extensively, and it is now disregarded as a standard for healthy eating. I grew up thinking that I should drink milk to be healthy, as it is a source of calcium. Now I know that milk doesn’t have that much calcium, and doesn’t have many nutritional benefits.

Giant crystal tasting balloons are brought to your table with great pomp and ceremony, encased in a smoke-filled glass dome that is removed extravagantly. It’s almost comical, but don’t laugh. Drinking elite rum here is a serious business.

We’ve visited this part of the US on several previous occasions and, in spite of typical Canadian trepidation about guns and violence, have never failed to be impressed by the genuine hospitality, tons of attractions and outstanding cuisine in the Lone Star State.

I like to cook. But I’m a busy person. For most of my meals, I try to come up with something that’s made from scratch, with ingredients that were grown, and/or raised humanely. I stay away from overly processed foods about 90% of the time. Here’s a few examples of my most popular half-scratch meals.

Regardless of what kind of job you have, getting dinner on the table when you are a busy parent is no easy task, but it’s not impossible. I also cook from scratch as much as possible. Here’s a few tips on how to get homemade-ish meals on the table that your family will love.

Along the way many foods have been given a bad rep. “Experts” of all sorts have tried to establish their credentials by coming up with lists of foods to eat and foods to avoid. Fad diets are simply that, the key to a long-term healthy diet is to simply make smart and healthy choices. That means that Chinese delivery and Chinese buffets can be included in your meal plans.

Now that I’m reaching the twenty-five-twice mark (it’s my age and I’ll describe it in my terms) I’ve become fond of eating real, healthy food, 90% of the time. What I do the other 10% of the time is mine, and I own it. But if I can make good choices most of the time, I’m good.

Medieval pilgrim trails across northern Spain took devout Christians to the town of Santiago de Compostella, to worship before what is believed to be the remains of St James. Modern travellers have different intentions for taking the two surviving Camino routes (as they are known).
Indeed, my walking destination is a specific modern shrine—Arzak Restaurant in San Sebastian, ranked number seven in San Pellegrino’s world Best 50 restaurants.